Free Software: Free HTML Utilities

Web Editing and HTML Freeware

Many Web authors, particularly newcomers, believe that they must spend $40 to $70 to get a decent Web page editing program. In reality, you don't need to spend a dime to get an excellent program that'll do everything that the big, commercial programs do.
Below, we offer a roundup of the top free Web editing programs around.
Even if you know nothing about HTML coding, these programs can make the process of building a Web site relatively painless. Many of these programs will basically write the code for you. Others offer a wealth of must-have features, such as checking the validity of your coding, spell checking, link checking, and automatically uploading your Web pages.
It's true: you can design a Web page using nothing more than Windows' built-in Notepad text editor. But with the many fabulous, free, feature-packed Web editing programs available, why bother?

Stone's WebWriter
A classic freeware HTML editor, WebWriter is easy for beginners to use and is packed with features that even many commercial programs don't offer. With WebWriter, you can easily edit HTML tags by right-clicking and you can format text, just as you would in your word processor. There's also a helpful built-in image viewer. (Free for private, noncommercial use only). For Windows.

Create a Site
An easy-to-use freeware Web site building program, Create a Site includes an HTML/CGI editor and a built-in browser. The program is designed for use with the Apache Web server. (For Windows).

EasyHTML
Here's an easy-to-use, feature-packed free Web page editor from Finland. EasyHTML offers many helpful options such as the ability to edit multiple pages simultaneously. Also features such goodies as floating toolbars, a built-in browser and JavaScripts that you can easily add to your page. It's also one of the few HTML editors compatible with Microsoft's IntelliMouse. (For Windows). Available in English and Finnish versions.

HTML Compress
Here's a handy freeware Webmaster's tool that lets you easily shrink the size of your Web pages, by optimizing your HTML code. HTML Compress eliminates unneeded characters. As a result, your pages load faster (and it also makes it more difficult for would-be pirates to make use of your code). For Windows.

Web-O-Rama Web page editor
This is a full-featured editor with a nice interface and many useful features, including intuitive forms for adding images, tables, links, lists, sounds, hex values, frames and more. All forms can be kept on top as floating toolbars. Other features include directory drop-down menus, a status bar with helpful info, a find & replace feature, auto-conversion of keyboard characters and more. Free, but donations are accepted. (For Windows).

1st Page
(Note: this site is temporarily unavailable). One of the best freeware HTML editors we've seen yet, this powerful program from Australia is loaded with handy features and is suitable for everyone from newbies to experts. Offers four different interfaces, ranging from Easy mode to Hardcore mode. 1st Page includes full support for WebTV, ASP, SSI, Cold Fusion, DHTML and more. Includes 450 free JavaScripts, as well. (For Windows).

Amaya
From the gatekeepers of the Web, W3C, comes this free, highly useful Web authoring tool & browser combination program. Amaya has tons of features, such as WYSIWYG and a spell checker and is evolving all the time. You don't need to know HTML to build a Web page with Amaya. (Available for Windows and Unix).

Arachnophilia
Don't spend $50 on a commercial Web authoring program until you've tried this cool free program. Arachnophilia is an outstanding Web editor, bursting with features. It'll import fully formatted text, tables, and outlines from any Windows-compliant application and automatically convert it to HTML. It also has built-in FTP capabilities that can automatically upload files (although it can't delete files, like a true FTP client can). Powerful keyboard macros can include system commands---even other macros, for maximum flexibility. (For Windows).

WindowHTML
(Note: this site is occasionally inaccessible). An excellent free Web authoring tool that lets you create eye-catching Windows-like HTML pages. Easy to use. (For Windows).

SiteAid HTML Editor
An excellent free Web editor, SiteAid offers features like multiple tag insertion methods and many quick wizard forms. It also automates such tedious tasks such as body selections, tables, lists and frames. (For Windows).